Anton Du Beke

middle of the week. Playing in the BMW Pro-Am is the highlight of my golfing year. I also use the gym there, and play a lot of tennis, so it’s got everything I need. It always seems a bit naughty to be strolling the greens and breathing in all that fresh air on a weekday, but everything else I do is indoors, whether it is working in theatres or in rehearsal studios, and the great thing about golf is you are outside for four hours. I’ve been playing golf as long as I’ve been dancing, since I was 13 or 14, when me and my mates used to sneak onto the second hole at Lullingstone Park in Kent, which was naughty. Golf is an incredibly sociable game, and I really miss the regular rounds I used to enjoy with Bruce Forsyth at Wentworth – we always used to have such competitive matches. Apart from Wentworth, my other favourites courses in the UK are Loch Lomond and Turnberry, which couldn’t be more different, but are equally stunning.

My favourite golf course in the world... has to be Pebble Beach Golf Links in California, which is breathtaking. My wife Hannah and I played there together – or rather she caddied for me – a couple of years ago when we were doing a road trip around California, and we’d both love to go back one day. Hannah has started having golf lessons now, and so have the kids, so hopefully we’ll have some family golf holidays together soon!

My ideal holiday involves... immaculate service, a wonderful hotel, sun and a fabulous golf course. In contrast, I once spent New Year in the Arctic Circle, which was remarkable. We stayed in a log cabin and we went dog sledging, ice fishing and skidooing. It was wonderful, but very cold.

I always take... a handheld clothes steamer to take care of the jackets. I also take a shirt and tie and a panama hat – I’m never knowingly under-dressed!

My top travel tip is to... embrace the culture of the country you are visiting. I hate people who moan about not being able to get a decent cup of tea. If that’s what you’re after, stay at home. The other tip is not to go back to the same place twice. We’ve had lots of amazing holidays, but we never go back – life’s too short.

The 2023 Anton du Beke Golf Day is being held at Brocket Hall’s Melbourne Club in Hertfordshire on July 8. Tickets for a team of 4 cost £1,000, with proceeds being donated to The Sick Children’s Trust. For more details, or to book your team, visit sickchildrenstrust.org/events or email specialevents@sickchildrenstrust.org.

Anton also appears in BBC travel show Anton & Giovanni’s Adventures in Sicily, with all three episodes now available on the BBC iPlayer.